Why should we read the Bible / study the Bible?

Simply stated , we should read and study the Bible because it is God's word to us.
2 Timothy3:16 states that the Bible is " God - breathed.

"In other words , it is God 's Word to us.

There are so many questions that philosophers and people

have asked that God answers for us in Scripture:

What is the purpose of life? Where did I come from?

Is there life after death? What happens after death?

How do I get to heaven? Why is the world full of Evil?

Why do I struggle to do good?

In addition to these "b i g" questions,

i t gives a ton of practical advice in areas such as:

What do I look for in a mate?

How can I have a successful marriage?

How can I b e a good friend? How can I be a good parent?

What is success and how do I achieve it? How can I change?

What really matters in life?

How can I live so that I do not look back with regret?

How can I please God? How can I gain forgiveness?

How can I handle the unfair circumstances and

bad events of life victoriously?

We should read and study the bible because it is totally reliable, without error.

The Bible is unique among so - called "holy" books in that it

does not merely give moral teaching and say,

"trust me . "Rather, it gives us the ability to test it by

checking the hundreds of detailed prophecies that

it makes , by checking the historical accounts it records,

and by checking these scientific facts it relates.

Those who say the Bible has errors have their ears closed to the truth.

The Bible is proven historically, scientifically,

prophetically accurate.

We should read and study the Bible because there is so much false teaching .

The Bible gives us the measuring stick by which we can determine truth

from error. It tells us what God is like. To have a wrong

impression of God is worship of an "idol "or " false god."

We are worshiping something that He is not ! The Bible

tells us how one truly gets to heaven . . .

Ephesians2:8 states that For it is by grace you have

been saved , through faith - and this is not from yourselves,

it is the gift of God.

Having faith to God means to believe in him and to follow his words.

James2:26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

- What you believe will determine what you do and how you live.
- What you do reveals what you believe a bout GOD.
- Without FAITH you cannot please GOD.
- Faith is not based on "feelings " ,but on what you know a bout the character andnature of GOD .

- Faith in Christ involves . . . the intellect / the emotions / the will.

The Bible will equip you for serving God
(2 Timothy3:17 ; Ephesians6:17 ; Hebrews4:12).

It will help you know how to be saved from your sin
and its ultimate consequence(2 Timothy 3:15).

Meditating on it and obeying its teachings will bring
success in life (Joshua1:8;James1:25).

God's Word will help you see sin in your life
and help you get rid of it (Psalm119:9,11).

It will give you guidance in life, making you wiser
than your teachers (Psalm32:8;1:99; Proverbs1:6).

The Bible will keep you from wasting years of your life on that
which will not last and does not matter (Matthew7:24-27).

Reading and studying the Bible will help you to see
beyond the attractive "bait " to the painful
"hook" in sinful temptations, so that you can learn
from others' mistakes rather than making them yourself.
Experience is a great teacher, but when it comes to learning
from sin, it is a terribly hard teacher. It is so much better to learn
from other's mistakes. There are so many Bible characters to
learn from, both positive and negative role models,
both often coming from the same person's life
at different points.

For example,

David, in his defeat of the giant, Goliath, teaches us that
God is greater than anything He asks us to face(1 Samuel17).

David, in his giving in to the temptation to commit adultery with
Bathsheba, reveals just how long- lasting and terrible the
consequences of a "moment's pleasure " can be (2 Samuel11f .).

Knowing the Bible gives us a real hope and peace when every
thing a round us seems to be falling apart
( Romans15:4 ; Psalm112:7 ; Habakkuk3:17 - 19 ).

The Bible is a book that is not for mere reading.
It is a book for studying so that it can be applied.
Otherwise , it is like swallowing food down with out chewing
and then spitting it back out again . . .
no nutritional value is gained by it.
The Bible is God's Word.
As such, it is as binding as the laws of nature.
You can ignore it , but you do so to your own hurt,
just as you would do so to ignore the law of gravity.
It cannot be emphasized strongly enough
just how important the Bible is to our lives.

Studying the Bible can be compared to mining for gold.
If you make little effort and merely "sift through the pebbles
in a stream," you will only find a little gold dust.
But the more you make an effort to really "dig into it," the more reward you will gain for your effort.